May 2023

Gainesville (GA) - Southeast Regional Championships

2023 … going to the Southeast Regional Regatta was the goal for our most committed athletes. We know that because of the very young age of our team, with Iyar our youngest of 13 years, the chances to qualify for USRowing National has not a real possibility - but - it was for all of us important to participate and see, learn and strive for 2024.

We participated in four boat classes:

Junior Women 4- with Ava Dierken, Sophia Schell, Sydney Flamenbaum and Caitlin Kinsella

In the last weeks to the Championships our team grew slowly together. The trainings became consistent. All four took the task to compete at the Championships as on step for their future rowing career. Knowing that after the time-trial (like for every other boat placed after clocking the eights fastest time or slower) the regatta could be over - all four prepared themselves professionally. We used the training times before hand and finally got to the start line. Sydney - our youngster with 14 years - called the strategy and motivated throughout the race … always a difficult situation if you do not have your opponent’s side by side. Unfortunately, our girls did not finish in the qualifying spots, so that this single race will stay as their experience to race on the Olympic Course from 1996. The girls debated long after the race. It was good to see that all have been pleased with their individual and their team performance for this year - but all also realized that all aspects of their training have to be more consistent and focused.

Junior Men 4- with Leon Chen, Nick Griffith, Luke Stanaland and Will Hilton

All four came really excited to the regatta. The preparation of this race was good but also interrupted of the final exams of Will who graduated (see article below). Unfortunately, Will was not able to come before the race to Gainesville - so that team only had their Time-Trial (TT) race as a practice. We have been lucky to rent a boat from Miami - so that we did not need to hotseat our DIESEL Vespoli boat, but it also meant that Will had to deal with foot steering the first time. Our team raced down the TT … unfortunately we saw also Will struggling holding the course with the toe. Through the finish line - the waiting of the results started and unfortunately our Four did not made it into the final. Of course Luke, Nick, Leon and Will have been sad … but then again, our team with two 15 year old athletes competed in an non age restricted Junior event and we have to tell our boys … well done … get your heads up … next year it will look quite different.

Junior Men 2- with Luke Stanaland and Nick Griffith

Luke and Nick, fresh out of the 4- jumped into their favorite training boat the 2-. Thank you here to our Masters who gave those two their best boat. And our two youngsters did not disappoint. They placed 8th in their Time-Trial so that in the afternoon the Semi-Final was the next step to reach the Final A. For all of our athletes it became a long day. Our parents step up perfectly our Scullers tent, nevertheless the sun burned down, and the time seemed to snail. Finally Luke and Nick went on the water and raced their Semi-Final. Knowing that only three boats would reach the A-Final they raced bravely but finally finished fifth. A great result for our 15 year old boys, but also to realize that more training years do the difference. Both not sad - more proud of themselves came back to the dock and received the warm welcome from their team-mates, parents and coach. Parabens

Junior Women 2x with Sydney Flamenbaum and Iyar

Sydney and Iyar … our youngest flames of our sport. After Sydney had her race in the Junior A 4- she teamed up in the 2x with her new team-mate Iyar (13 years). During the past month the coach realized Iyars development and her fun to the sport and decided in a last-minute decision that both girls deserved a chance to try the 2x at the Championships. Iyar - still very inexperienced - lifted all our spirits with her view, comments and questions how to see the rowing world - but it also helped to go them into the race. A big surprise for all (except the coach who saw it coming) our surprise 2x made it into the Semi-Final. Sydney already with her first race at 8.30am was semi-happy when she found out that her next and third race would be at 6pm. At 6pm the wind, which had been tail for most of the time turned and the boats faced stiff headwind. After the first Semi finished and the 7th place rowed around 11min for the 2k every one of our team did not really envied Iyar and Sydney. A brave fight against tiredness, heat, wind brought them down. Sydney brought up the stroke rate to the finish and our parents and their team-mates probably lost their voices at the shoreline - the girls crossed the line exhausted in a little over 11min - congratulations for this fight, but today the other teams have been better.

The Dinner

THANK YOU … Thank you to all the parents who came, who made this event for their children so special. Thank you coach for the best MOTEL8 you could find :-) We all came together for an evening Dinner. 20 of us celebrated two hours in moments of smiles, of recalling moments of the day and just quite thoughts about what his / her child achieved in their few years of being here. At one point I, Bernhard, stood up and said DANKE SCHOEN. Thank you to all of you who came to Gainesville and all to all who could not be there but gave all their support.

To our parents - a triple Hipp Hipp Hurray

(I still debate if I should have all named you by your first name?)

Clay Shoot

This year’s 3rd Annual Clay Shoot date is postponed to the 5th of November. After a long discussion at the board meeting - we saw it would be not fair to all of our supporters and members to do the Clay Shoot on Memorial Day when to many of us would have family and other reunions and would miss out. We could discuss a new date with the Clay-Shoot range - so that we are now happy to announce that the tournament will be held on November 5th 2023.

Hydrow - RAFFLE

Hydrow is proud sponsor of the Scullers. We are happy to announce that the Raffle for the Hydrow Rowing Erg is not stopped and that at the Year End Banquet (August 4th … see more information’s at the end of the Newsletter) we will announce the winner. Check our website Sarasota Scullers Youth Rowing Program in the next days where you can buy YOUR Raffle ticket.

Remember every ticket you purchase is a donation to our program, so do not lose the chance to win an erg but also being a big supporter of our team.

Yard Sale 1.0

Why Yard Sale? The Scullers are looking to fundraise boats for our future.

The Yard Sale is one of many fundraiser events … every one of the club donated things from their home and we are happy that the first fundraiser could bring in nearly 1000$. One of our members decided … the kids need the boat now - so Colleen donated her training single incl. oars directly. THANK YOU Colleen and we promise you that it is in good hands and already served the purpose.

New Unisuit - Regattasport

The summer season 2023 is slowly coming to a finish … but we are not done. In the fall our team will race in the outfit of our future. The Scullers teamed up with RS (RegattaSport) and the new design is here. We are proud to be the oldest rowing club in Sarasota and we will wear the S in honor to all of us. See here the first pictures of our redesigned racing suits. More will follow and you will be able to buy our club wear directly at RegattaSport

Alumni Sarasota Scullers

In the past weeks we started to look back. We wanted to know where are you all.

Where are you Scullers from the past - and our Head Coach started writing all of you. Over 700 emails went out - to reach out to all the addresses he could find in our documents, and he is still not done. Many email addresses are not valid any more - some of our members left the club entirely and some we lost to Crew or other Clubs nearby …. but there are also members responding to the call.

The list of Alumni is growing. We would like to see you here and also become a member - an Alumni member - for our club. We will send out invitations to all of you to join our Alumni database at Boathouse Connect. We are interested to hear your story again, to remember of your moment at the Scullers and see the pictures of your ad our past. We also would like to meet you again.

Our banquet in 2023 will be at the 4th of August … it will be a great chance for all of us to connect you with our current team and say Thank you. Please see the announcement of the banquet on our Facebook or Instagram and please register for a great evening.

Summer Camps 2023

The summer holidays 2023 started. The Scullers continue to train. The aim for next year is set and the athletes are ready. Our two months of summer will be used to train, to recruit and also race again - this time in Halifax / Daytona Beach (see below). Find here one of our many posters and announcements … if you want to bring a friend or a child to our camp please see our website www.sarasotascullers.org our contact directly [email protected] 

European Championships Morning

Europe and Racing … always challenging for us … six hours of time difference - but as hardcore rowing fans and parent we could arrange the Saturday Finals of the Euro Champs at Agnes house … Thank you. Of course, we needed to find out who knows the best of us about international (European) rowing … and surprisingly it was not our coach (me - Bernhard). Leon and Nick prognosed three out of five races correctly and won the big prize. It was an awesome experience for our team to see the races in Bled (Slovenia) … especially at the end with the Men 8+ which ended in a wild screaming - not only had we different ideas who should win - also, a different winner would have changed the outcome of our betting … Thanks to GB - Leon and Nick took the prize home.

High School

In 2023 Caitlin and Will will leave us and become the youngest of our Alumni. See their smiles here and Thank you for being a Sculler 4ever.

Forward looking Regatta Halifax - July 2023

The end of our Summer Training will be marked with the regatta in Halifax - Daytona Beach. Many of us are gone in summer but nearly all of our High Schoolers already could sign up so that we will have a great FINALE for our summer training. For more information’s - please visit the official website and get more info during the next weeks from Facebook and Instagram

4th of August - Year End 2023 Banquet

The end of summer is always a good date to reflect what happened in the past year. Our coach came in January to us and since then the one or other thing happen. The year end banquet will bring us together and we are proud to announce that one of our Masters Bob Robertson is giving us his house to celebrate. We want to invite you - the reader here - the parent - the Middle School athlete - the Alumni who spend his summer in Sarasota and all the friends of the Scullers. The 2023 Book will look back to remember who we are and where we will go into the future. We will inform you all more in our next Newsletter and information’s through our normal social media channels and WhatsApp

Picture taking in bright summer light was not the easiest